How to Apply for a Visa for My Spouse
If you are an American citizen, you may apply for a visa for your spouse from another country. While this process is not difficult, it does require a great deal of paperwork and attention to detail. The process may be tedious but necessary to obtain a visa for your spouse, which shows the Department of Homeland Security that a consular at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate has determined your spouse is eligible to enter the United States for a specific purpose.
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Things You'll Need
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Passport(s)
- Birth certificate
- Divorce or death certificate of any former spouses
- Marriage certificate
- Police certification from all areas lived in since age 16
- Records from a medical examination
- Evidence of financial support
- Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, Part I and II
- Two immigrant visa photos
Instructions
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File Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for your spouse with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Immigration Field Office for your area. After the USCIS office approves your petition, it is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.
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Pay the applicable fees to the National Visa Center (NVC) when it contacts you. After the fees are paid, the NVC communicates with your attorney or agent to receive all necessary paperwork. Then, all documents are sent to the embassy or consulate where you will go for an interview.
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Review the appointment packet that is sent to your attorney or agent. This packet tells you the date of your appointment and what is required to obtain the visa. Generally, the following is required: passport(s), birth certificate, divorce or death certificate of any previous spouse, marriage certificate, police certificate from all places lived since age 16, medical examination records, evidence of financial support, an Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, both Part I and Part II, two immigrant visa photos, proof of the marriage and the husband/wife relationship, and payment of immigrant processing fees. The consular officer may ask for more information.
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Obtain all necessary vaccinations. You will also have to have a medical examination prior to your interview.
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Attend the interview. At the interview, a digital fingerprint scan will be taken and all of your documentation will be reviewed. After the interview, you will be contacted regarding whether your spouse's visa was granted or whether additional action is necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Only legally wed spouses qualify for immigration purposes. Common-law spouses only qualify if the country the common-law marriage took place in recognizes the relationship. Have any documents in a foreign language translated before your appointment. Make sure all copies of civil documents are clear and legible.
Do not wait until the last minute to gather all required documentation for your interview. Your spouse will be ineligible for a visa if he or she has certain previous criminal convictions or has HIV/AIDS.
